It’s all hands on deck this week as Vancouver prepares for the forecasted heat wave.
“Between Environment Canada’s special weather statement on the heat wave and Vancouver Coastal Health’s warning, as well as our air quality advisory, the city is bracing for extreme weather,” Mayor Gregor Robertson said Tuesday morning. “This is an unusual combination for Vancouver, although with climate change we’re seeing more and more of these extreme weather events.”
Temperatures are expected to reach record highs this week. According to Environment Canada, a massive ridge of high pressure is building over southern B.C. through Thursday, bringing with it several days of hot weather with day time temperatures expected to reach the mid to upper 30s in some areas.
“Our first priority in the city is to keep our residents cool and safe and healthy, we have a full deployment of our facilities and our partners to make sure we’re doing everything we can to support people around the city, particularly those who most vulnerable.”
The city will be rolling out additional water fountains, open cooling stations and stock community centres with extra water and sunscreen for homeless residents.
Staff is also ensuring that water fountains and cooling station locations are nearby some of the larger events — Celebration of Light, Pride Parade and Powell Street Festival — taking place this weekend.
“We encourage anyone who needs to cool down to visit an air conditioned community centre or library, or enjoy a wading pool, outdoor pool, water park or spray park,” said Darrell Reid, fire chief and general manager Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services Emergency Management.
He said VFRS is working with city staff on locations where temporary water fountains can be attached to fire hydrants. The fountains will be located at the intersections of: Ontario Street and East 1st Avenue, Commercial Drive and East Broadway, Granville Street and West 70th Avenue, East Hastings and Heatley streets and Robson and Bidwell streets.
“At this point in time there will be five locations and we’re looking at some other ones that we’ll be able to add to that as well.”
Fire, police and park rangers will be extra vigilant in looking out for people suffering from heat-related illness.
“We ask the public also look out for one another, particularly seniors, the young, homeless and those with chronic health problems, or those socially isolated.”
Park board chair Michael Weibe said that in addition to cooling centres, showering facilities at the Kits and Andy Livingstone community centre will be available for the homeless.
“We’re also going to do one thing we haven’t done very often, we’re going to have misting centres at four of our parks,” he said.
The misting centres will be available at Thornton, Emery Barns, Oppenheimer and Andy Livingstone parks.
